Chicago-area band Your Villain My Hero will appear at RidgeFest in late July. Photo courtesy of Your Villain My Hero website.Chicago Ridge to shop mostly local for its rock and roll bands

To celebrate Chicago Ridge turning 100 years old this year, village officials will put on a Centennial Weekend celebration and rather than bringing big-named entertainment to play, they will highlight the village’s rich history by showcasing local musical talent while saving the city a few bucks.

Also, RidgeFest, which has brought in national acts to town such as Ted Nugent, Bret Michaels, the BoDeans and Joan Jett, will have a mostly local flavor to it as the festival will feature the Suburban Cowboys July 24, Your Villain My Hero July 25, an act yet to be announced on July 26 and Chicago 6 and American English on July 27. The July 26 band will likely be a national act, according to officials.Chicago Ridge Village Clerk George Scheyler said the Centennial Weekend is perfect for local bands to showcase their talent while the village benefits financially. “We are planning on showcasing local talent this year since RidgeFest is right around the corner and usually is the big money maker that attracts the big-name bands,” Scheyler said before Thursday’s board meeting. “I’m not sure who we’re going to pick but we’re definitely going to stay local.”In the coming months, the village will host various events to spark community interest. The festivities are set for Sept. 5 and will run through the weekend. Members of the planning committee have proposed several events, which include a centennial parade, classic car show, community photo shoot, pancake breakfast and a 5k run.

In order to pay for the blowout birthday party, Chicago Ridge is offering residents a chance to purchase banners for with their family’s name and affix the banner to the nearest streetlight to the family’s home. The village is also creating an advertisement book for local businesses and non-profits to market their company to the community they serve.

Village officials are still determining which bands are set to perform at the 100-year anniversary. Local bands such as The Neverly Brothers and The Saturday Act are two potential bands discussed in the past that meet the local criteria.

“This is a great opportunity for us to bring local bands that showcase our community’s talent,” Scheyler said. “We are planning on discussing which bands will be selected and we have a committee working on selecting bands that will be the best fit for the Centennial Weekend.”